Conclusion
• Using “less than and equal to” increases the error and the precision of exact measurement of 16 mm would not be
available in the field or standardized across botanists. Identifying a smaller number correctly may be more
beneficial than identifying all with errors.
•Attempts to classify all plants based on morphology, where possible hybridization (Anderson, 1936) is occurring,
will lead to misclassification.
• Using decision trees can lead to different results and dimension criteria (cm) happening within a “black box” which
may be difficult to explain.
•Explaining to other botanists or taxonomists may be easier using simpler methods and accepting that plants are
difficult (impossible) to identify by morphology alone.
Anderson, E. (1936). The species problem in Iris. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden,23(3), 457-509.